Car door



Jan. 29, 1935. G. H. wHlT'ru-:R

CAR DOOR Filed Sept. 17, 1952 v3 Sheets-Sheet l G lenn 11. Whlkher Jan. 29, 1935. G. H. wir-MTTIERy CAR DOOR Filed Sept. 17, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 wvcmlo Glenn H. Whittier' av. gww/y y., if MJ y Grim/MAW Jan. 29, 1,935.

G. H. WHITTIER CAR DOOR Filed sept. 17, -1932 3 Sheets-Sheerl 5 T u ma w m o M v@ We 5 .IM

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Glenn 1:1. Whittier Patented Jan. 29, 1935 Arines CAR DOOR

' Glenn H. Whittier, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application September 17, 1932, Serial No. 633,621

5 Claims.

My invention relates to car doors and particularly to doors for use in railway oars employed in handling bulk materials.

An object of the invention resides in providing a door for such cars which will readily withstand the pressure of the material within the car and whichV may be easily manipulated to ope and close the opening in the car.

Another object of the invention resides in employing a pair-of spaced guidesdisposed along the door frame and in employing 'a plurality of overlapping plates arranged infprogressive order along said guides and adapted to be disposed in various overlapping positions to offer varying degrees of rigidity to resist the pressures of the various substances shipped in the cars.

An object of the invention resides in providing simple and eiective supporting means for holding the plates in operative position and for latching the plates while so held.

Another object of the invention resides in forming guides with means providing laterally extending shoulders and in likewise constructing the plates with means forming laterally eX- tending shoulders adapted to engage the shoulders of the guides and to hold the plates in position.

An object of the invention resides in constructing 'either the shoulder of the guides or the shoulders of the plate with cavitiesl and the other thereof with lugs adapted to enter into the cavities and to hold the plates from lateral movement fory preventing disengagement of the shoulders.

Another object of the invention resides in constructing the plates with flanges having openings therein to form said cavities and in constructing the guides with openings leaving shoulders and upwardly extending lugs therein adapted to engage the cavities in the plates.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a pocket in the iioor of the car door and in providing a plate serving as a sill for closing said pocket, said plate being hinged with respect to the iioor and. swingable substantially into. the plane of the plates forming the closure'.

An object of the invention resides in providing blocks slidable into a position behind said sill to hold the same in door closing position, said sill being swingable outwardly upon retraction of said blocks to permit the contents of the car in front of said door to ow outwardly therefrom.

A feature of the invention resides in constructing said blocks with inclined surfaces forming rests against which said sill may abut, said blocks being laterally movable to permit of disengagement from said sill to release the same.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter illustrated and/or described.

In the drawings: y

Fig. l is a perspective view of a portion' of a railway car illustrating an embodiment of my invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is an elevational sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

' Fig. 3 is a view similar tofFig. 2 showing-the closure in altered position.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figs. 2 and 3 showing the closure completely open.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

Fig- V6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the car frame and floor illustrating the construction of one of the' blocks and its keeper.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the block removed fromthekeeper.

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view taken on line 8-8 ofFig. 5.

Fig. 9 is another detail sectional View taken on line-99 of Fig. 5. p

Fig. 10 is a perspective View of one of the blocks removed from its keeper. p

Fig. 11 is a perspective View of a portion of the keeper. l

Fig.' 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of oneof the posts of the door frame showing the construction for holding the plates supported.

My invention may be installed on any of the various types of railway cars used for handling bulk materials, such as grain, coal and similar raw materials. Forthe purpose of illustrating the application of my invention, an ordinary type of railway car has been shownythough itvcan readily be comprehended that the invention is applicable to any other type of railway cars.

The railway car illustrated' has been indicated in its entirety at A and comprises side walls 10, a roof l1 and a floor 12,` all 'of which is carried on supporting trucks (notl illustrated). The wall 10 has an opening 13 therein whereby access may be had to the interior of the car. About this opening is provided a door frame 14 comprising a header 15 and two posts 16 and 17 (Fig. 5) supporting the same. A sliding doo-r 18, provided with rollers 19 and 20 slides along a rail 21 so that the opening 13 may be closed from the exterior. The floor 12 consists of a number of longitudinally extending stringers 22 and 23,

which are supported through cross beams 24 situated at suitable intervals and braced through truss rods 25 in the usual manner. 'Ihe floor 12 further includes a iiooring 26, which is laid upon the stringers 22 and 23 and which may be of suitable thickness to carry the various substances to be shipped in the car.

My invention proper consists of a door closure for the opening 13 in addition to the door 18, which will withstand the pressure exerted by the material or commodity within the car, and which may be readily opened and closed to facilitate the loading or unloading of the car. 'I'his closure comprises a plurality of plates 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 and 32 which are progressively arranged in overlying position along two guides-33 :and 34, which are shown in detail in Fig. 12. Both of the guides 33 and 34, being identical .in construction, only the guide 34 will be described. v

The guide 34 is constructed from two members, one an angle bar 35 and the other a Z-bar 36 both of which are attached to the post 17. The angle bar 35 is constructed so that the leg 37 thereof overlies the face 38 of the post disposed on the` interior of the car, while the leg 39 thereof is disposed upon the face of the post within the frame. This angle member serves as a shield forv protecting the post and Apreventing injury thereto and at the same time forms a support for the various plates in a manner to be presently described. The Z-bar 36 is arranged so that one of the flanges 40 thereof is attached to the face 38 of post17 in aposition abutting .against the leg 37 of angle 35. This Z-bar is'further arranged so that the other flange 41 thereof `overlies the leg 37 of angle 35 'and forms in conjunction therewith a groove 42 serving as a guideway for the various plates 27, 28, 29 etc. These meinbers may be secured to the post 41 through lag screws or other types of screws, or the same may be 'bolted or attached thereto in any suitable manner.

The plates 27, 28, 29 etc. are of a length greater than the width of the door opening 13 and are so constructed that the ends 43 thereof slide within the guideways 42 formed in the two guides 33 and 34. These plates are further constructed with the flanges 44 which extend outwardly from the plates proper and into the opening 13 of the frame. These anges serve :to stiffen the plates and resist the pressure applied to the plates upon the interior of the car from the materials stored in the car. The width of the guideways 42 are such .that the plates may readily overlie one another and so that the same may be moved into lor out of position as required, without causing binding'. When the plates are disposed in closing position, the vsame overlie one another as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3 with the various flanges 44 projecting outwardly therefrom and on the 'same side of the closure. These plates in conjunction form a closure which I have indicated in its entirety at 45 and which as will presently become apparent, 'may be raised and lowered to cover more or less of the opening 13 and at the same time be made to reinforce one another so as to withstand greater or less pressure from thematerials carried within the car.

For the purpose of supporting the plates 27 to 32 in position the various anges 44 thereof are cut -back as designated at 46 to provide outward- 1y projecting portions 47 disposed at the locality of the angles 35. The legs 37 of the angles 35 are constructed with a number of openings 51 and the posts 14 are notched as designated at 48 to provide recesses into which the projections 47 may extend. As many such openings as desired may be used to procure any degree of overlap of the plates. To accommodate the said projections the openings 51 extend into the legs 39 of the angles 35 as indicated at 49 whereby the projections 51 may be fully received within said openings andrecesses and so that the various plates may lie snugly against the legs 37 of angles 35 which form the outermost side walls of the guideways 42. By means of this construction a shoulder is formed upon the edge of each leg 37 of each angle 35 at each of the openings 51. In like manner a shoulder indicated at 52 in Figs. 2 and 3 is provided upon the underside of each vof the vprojecting portions 47 which are adapted to restupon the shoulders 50 and to support the various plates at the proper elevation.

In order to prevent the plates from being disengaged from the shoulders on which they are supported a latch lug 53 is formed in the leg37 of angle 35 at each opening which projects upwardly into the opening 51 and above the shoulder 50 thereof. This latch lug is'adapted to enter into an opening or cavity 54 formed in the-outwardly projecting portion 47 of the various plates. When the lugs 53 are received within Openings 54 lateral movement of the plates with respect to the shoulders 50 on which they rest is prevented and the plates are securely held in position.

For the purpose of providing storage space 'for retaining the various plates 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 and 32 when in disuse, a pocket is provided in the floor 12 which is indicated at 55 in Fig. 8. This pocket is Yconstructed by removing a section rof the floor at 56 and by providing -anauxiliary Stringer 57 immediately beneath the same forsupporting said iioor, which Stringer is spaced from the Stringer 23 a suitable distance to form the pocket in which all vof the various plates when the same are properly nested may be housed. In place of the flooring removed a narrow ystrip of wood 58 is provided which serves as 'a .sleeper and vwhich is laid upon the stringer 57. `This strip follows along the side of the wall 10 of the car and is disposed between the two posts 1-3 'and 14. The strip 58 provides a space 59 in lwhich the various flanges 44 of the plates may Aextend when 'the plates are received within pocket 55. In order to receive the portions 47 of the various plates, recesses are formed in the posts 16 and 17 at their lower ends and into which said 'parts project. 'This construction in conjunction with post 17 is shown in Fig. 5.

For closing the opening to the pocket 55 a sill `6() isemployed which is constructed of plate material the same as the variousplates forming the closure 45 and which is formed with an outwardly extending flange 61 `corresponding to the iianges 44 of said plates. The sill 60 and its flange 61 are however of a length slightly less than the distance'between the two posts 13 and 14 so that the same may be moved from a position closing the opening to the pocket 55 to 'a position giving access to the plates disposed therein. The sill 6() is preferably hinged to the floor so that the same may be swung from one position to the other. For this purpose pintles 63 .are provided which are welded at the ends of the sill 60.

These pintles are pivoted in leaf hinges 64 secured 6l .thereof overlies the strip 58, to a vposition restingupon' the floor .12.` Whenin itsiorme'r positionthe-'opening tothe pocket 55 is completely cio'sedand a smooth flush surface provided which is incontinuation of the door. When in its other position the pocketj55 is opened andi the various plates contained thereinas shown in Fig. 8, may :be manually elevatedthererom.: AThe sill 60 is' so constructed that the same may be used as a partof theclosure linfor the opening 13, forming. the lowermost plate ofthe group. For this purposevthe' hinge. leaves 64-are arranged so that the axes thereof liesubstantiallyin line lwith the flanges.. v411. of Z-bars 36 forming. the outer portion 4of the .guideways .42. .The openings 51 4forming the-supporting structure .for the vari dus plates. are so. arranged 'that thel lowemmst plate 32-may oyerli'e the sill 60. When .thenpaits fare inproper position theA various plates .andisill 60 are disposed as shown in Figs.^{2 andf'.

sill 60 -aspreviously describedzs narrower than' the width lofthe opening l'so that the :same receivesno support from the angles 3'5 as isthe case withthe other jplat'es. Totsupportzthesaid sill -I employ twoY blocks 65 which are disposed at the `lower ends of the guides 33 and .34.' These blocks are slidaoly .retained within keepers 66 bt illustrated in Figs. 6, 7, 9 and 11'.. The block 65 .is formed `with' a beveled surface 67 which forms a seat against which the ends lof the sill 60 may restv when the block is projectedV outwardly beyondV the angle 35... .This :block-is further formed with .a .beveled surface 68 :slightlypffset from the surface `67 which forms arest .against which the lower (edge -of the plate 32 may rest. Whenthe -blocksare in extended''position the said vblocks together with the .sill 60 and the various plates, form ya-tght closure for the open'- ing' 13, preventing leakage vof the substances from the car through the opening.

The lblock 65 is'slidably mounted in the keeper 66 as previously stated. 1 This .keeper consists of afback 69 :and a .base y70 connected together, which may beiormedfrom a single sheet of maA` terial bent into the desired form. The 'back 69 is secured to the post 17 at the lower end thereof andtheleg 37 of angle 35 may be cutawayas indicated atfll to receive said back.v IThe base -'I0 of -itheba'ck rests rupon-the` floor' l2 and extends outwardly from the post. lIniconjunctionlwith, this 'structure a top 72 and a front '73 are'em-L played which are attached to the back 69 and the bottomt 76. The. `top 72 is constructed vwitlral flange 74 which overli'es the upper. portion 75 of back 69v while the front 73 is similarly constructed with a. flange 76 which overlis the marginal por-v tion 77 of base 70. The top '.72 and fronts'l are secured to the bac-k 69 `and the bottom y7U through the vflanges 74 and 'T5 whichv may be bolted or screwed thereto. The block 65as previously described, is slidable lalong the keeper 66 yandinay be projected outwardly beyond the same asshown in Fig'. 6 so that the .seat .67 is inposition to :support the sill 60 or the same may 'be-moved to lie completely `within said keeper permitting the sill to swing as previously described.

For the `purpose of holding the 'block 65 in proper position two nubs ''and 79are` formed in the front 73 -of the keeper 66 which are adapted to 'engage into a depression-80 in' the block A65. One end ofthe keeper 66 is formed open through which the block may be projectedwhile theother end is providedv with a closure 81' hinged to the top 72 at82. This closure is arranged :on aminclineso that the same always `remains.closed through gravity and be operiedfwhen the foe; oasiorl.l arises so that `access'to the blockinay be had for the purpose of cleaning lorreinoi'lal as fdersired..

The blockffi'ymay slided .the .keeper l66 through 'direct :engageinennif desired. How:-v ever, for the purpose of 'facilitating'movement thereof, lvthe sainefisconstructed 'at itsfforward face with a cavityili having abar'85 extending across the sani-e.; A ysuitable hookmaybe-hooked in the cavityl B4 behind the bar B5 wherebythe block may be manually moved into oroutoflthe keepen as desired. f l i -v The 'use of my invention-is as fol1ows:` Inn'or mal position thevario'us plates forming the sure for thedoora're disposed within the pocket '55.as.shownin"Fig. Ji and thesill'BO .in a position to overlie the openingto. the same'said sill rest'- ing upon the strip '58 .andthe flange 461 of said sill overlying the; forwardfedge ofthe-strip. When in such. position the .sill lies ilush with the floor and the car -.has :the appearance and:l utility of theordinary box car. When ita is desired to use the. carrfor shipping rgrain `orpther similar ma'- teri'als `frequentlyshipped inbulk, the sill '60' is swung back to uncover-:theA pocket inthe floor and inwardly fof "theopening.13.5l The `various .plate-'27., 28,229, 30.,"31 a'nd`32 are then raised by ha'nd'oneatv a time and slid along the-.two 'guides ,33;fand. 34;r Each' plate is supported in one of the recesses 51l aspreviously described, and the sills-,brought back'-intoclosing position. Theplates are then arranged'gin such a manner that4 thelower ends each of the plates overlie the upper edges of theadjoining plates.v Where ,a material having little pressureis being shipped, the plate'shmalybe slid apart as shown in Fig. 2 to substantially coverthegentire farea of theo'pehing 13. Where, hoiiever;y a material is to be shipped which will exertrappreciable pressure upon the door, the plates may-'be arranged inthe position shown h'Fg. B so thatsuhstantially two th-ielrries'se'sfo'fv plates are pro-vided vthroughout the vertical extent of thedoor. This Vgives. double strengtlitothclosure andassists' infinore readily resisting"the` pressure of the material-within the 'cai'.V In either'c'ase the lower plate I32'is disposed above' theoor'oi the car toleave a space there# between. The sill ls'u'sed to close this space'. After' all olf `'the plates have-'loeen'elevatedjand properly positioned theV silly60 vis swung back into thepos'iti-on shown in Figs'.l `2`and 3 in yfhicl-i the same contacts with the lower edge of vthe plate B2i -fAfter' the sillis so disposedv the two blocks -inay be projected outwardly to bring the seats '6'7 into a7 position to support said sill. VThe closure islthen `completely closedandthe car may beiilledin'the usual manner. r i l fIt iste' b'enotedthat inthe filling' of the car the upper plates mayA be grouped and supported incl'os proximity to one another at an elevation-below their ultimate positions'. lAs the car is lled theplates Vmay loe raised until the com# niodityv or material is 'completely lled in the car. After the car has "been filled the plates are heldin placethroughl pressure of the material against the saine andv raising ofthe plates pre-v vented throughftheaction of the lugs 53 and the recesses 54' inthe plates.- When the car is to be ernptiedthe'two blocks arerst shifted into the keeper-S66 to-clear the edgesof the sill 60. As soon as'this occurs the pressure of'the'grain forces the sill 60 vinto the position shownin Fig; 4

and the grain or other materials in the car'imay thenilow out vtl'n'ough the'opening .afforded by removal of said sill. 'Afterithe grain immediately in back of the closure has been removed, the sill 60 may be swung back into the car and the various plates of the closure lowered into'the `then open pocket 55.z Upon again closing the sill. 60 the remainder of the grain may be removed lfrom the car in the customary manner.

My invention is highly advantageous in that thestructure may be used repeatedly, thereby eliminating the usualV expense in providing temporary wood closures whichare destroyed after each use thereof. The closure members are conviently located and when in disuse are completely outof the. way. When desired for use the closure. may `be quickly and easily erected. Any height of closure within the limits of the device may be procured and where materials exerting considerable pressure are to be shipped, the plates may be arranged to reinforce one.. another and to supplement one another, in resisting the pressure of the material. The manner of unlatching the plates is exceedinglyk simple 'and once the plates are in position, the same so remain until further manipulated. The device `can be constructed Vat a reasonable cost and without greatly. changing the construction of the car. l Thefpocket for the reception of the plates isopen at the bottom 'so that .in case any materials enter in the same, said materials will pass out through .the pocket to prevent jamming of the `plates or operation of the device. 'I'he same car may be used for the shipment of any desired goods, such asis now the custom and thesill used for closing the pocket functions to protect the car and to render the same more useful foi-its usual purposes. VChanges in the specific form of my invention, as herein' disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and-desire to protect by Letters Patent is:v

1. In a door structure for a railway car having a floor and a door frame including posts at lthe sides thereof, guides along theposts, a; plurality of closure plates slidable at their ends in said guides and adapted to overlap'each other in superimposed relation to forma closure of diierent heights for an upper portion of the door opening, .each plate having an outwardly projecting ange at its upper edge, a sill hinged to the .fioor and swingable between the posts into an upwardly inclined position to close the lower portion of the door opening, keepers at the floor, one at one side of the door frame andone at the other side thereof, blocks slidable in said keepers and movable into 'and out of position projecting into the door opening, each block having a beveled surface providing arest for the adjacent end of the hinged sill to brace Vsaid sill in its upwardly inclined position and having a second beveled surface, offset from said` first beveled surface, providing a. rest for the adjacent end of the, lowermost closure plate in various elevated dispositions thereof, means on the guides adapted to cooperate with the flanges of said plates for swingably suspending the respective plates at selected elevations, the lowermost closure plate being adapted to swing by gravity, into position against said second mentioned beveled surfaces of said blocks and thereby lap the upwardly inclined sill and the remaining closure plates being adapteditoswing by gravity into position one against the other. i 2. Ina door structure for a railway car having a oor -and a door frame including -posts .at the'sides thereof, guides along .the posts, a-'plurality of closure plates slidable at vtheirv ends in said guides and adapted to overlap each other in'superimposed relation toiform a closure for an upper portion. of the door opening, a sill hinged to the floor and swingable betweenthe posts into an upwardly inclined position to close the lower portion'of the door opening, blocks4 slidable into and out of the door opening at either side thereof and providing rests for the ends of the hinged sill to bracesaid sill in upwardly -inclined position, means on the ,guidesy cooperating with said plates individuallyy for swingably suspending the' same across thesdOOr-opening, 'the lowermost closure. plate lbeing swingable 'by' gravity vinto position lapping` and bearing against the upwardlyinc'linedssill and .they remaining closure plates beingxswingable by 'gravity' into position one againstthe other. f- "1 5 3. `In a door structure fora railwaycar having a floor and a door frame including postsatthe sides thereof, guides. along the posts, a plurality of closure-plates slidable at theirrends in said guides and adapted to overlap reach other in superimposed relation to form a closure forv an upper portion' of `the door opening, the floor having a pocket therein in continuation of said guides for thereoeption ofthe closure plates,'ia sillY hinged kto the floor and swingable between the posts from aposition covering said pocket into an upwardly inclined position to close the lower .portion of thedoor opening,"means for bracing said sill in such inclined position,.means on the guides cooperatingrwith. said plates'individually for swingably suspending the respective plates across the door opening, the lowermost closure plate beingadapted to swing by gravity into position lapping and bearing against the upwardly .inclined sill' and the remaining closure plates: being swingable by gravity into position one against the other.

4. In a door structure for a railway car having a floor and a door frame'including posts at the sides thereof,A guides along theposts, a plurality of closure platesslidable at their ends in'said guides and adapted to overlap each other in superimposed relation to form a closure ofdifferent heights for an upper portion of the-door opening, a sill hinged to the iioor and swingable between the posts into an upwardlyinclined position to close thelower portion of the door-opening, means for bracing said sill in such inclined position, means on. the guides cooperating with saidzplates individually for swingably suspending the respective plates across'the door opening, the lowermost closure plate being swingable by gravity into position lapping and bearing against the upwardly inclined sill and the remaining closure plates being. swingable by gravity into position one against' the other.v

5. In a door structure fora railway car having` a door frame .includingposts at thev sides thereof, a plurality of plates adapted at their ends to overreach said posts and in superimposed overlapping relation to provide a closure for the door opening,` said plates having outwardly projecting anges at their upper edges, angles along the inner corners of said posts, each angle having corner slots formed therein and extending into both legs, corresponding slots inthe two angles beingadapted to receive opposite end portions of the flangel of a plate, the upwardly facing edges of the angles'at the slots'providingrests for a flange and asupport for the plate through such ange, the legs of said angles in the plane said plate flanges and keeper lugs, respectively, of the door frame being formed with keeper lugs whereby the closure plates are suspended swingextending upwardly from said upwardly facing ably and thereby adapted by gravity to swing into edges, said flanges being formed with apertures position one against the other.

5 therein to receive said lugs, the slots in said lugs and the apertures in said anges freely receiving GLENN H. WI-HTTIER. 

